Detroit Tigers: 3 way-too-early high-impact free agents to target

Based on the comments this week from Detroit Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch, we got ahead of ourselves and provided three free agents’ ideas.

Earlier in the week, Detroit Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch spoke about seeking high-end talent for 2022. So instantly, a few names came to mind, should this scenario happen.

Currently, the Detroit Tigers are ranked 23rd in payroll in baseball per Sportrac at $85 million dollars with Miguel Cabrera being the largest among the contracts.  With the signing of Robbie Grossman in the off-season to a two-year deal, it was at least an indication that Detroit was not thinking about stop gag measures.

What do the Detroit Tigers need?

It is not as easy of an answer as a shortstop and a few starting pitchers. Detroit has to address if Jonathan Schoop will come back and hold down second base. Who will play first base on a regular basis?

Look at the outfield. Do you worry that Akil Baddoo will suffer a sophomore slump? What exactly is Victor Reyes? Daz Cameron has not played enough to show if he can be a regular and Derek Hill continues to improve but the same question arises with him.

Even behind the plate, you can be pretty sure that Jake Rogers and Eric Haase will be there but does Detroit sign a veteran backup in case Rogers has some arm issues.

The outfield and catching situations may be a product of an overthinking mind but looking at how the Twins fell back from last year, while Minnesota may have a better team, the idea is for Detroit to get better and build off this season.

The Tigers have to address a lot that for now, we are not thinking about but let’s just start with three big high-impact free agents.

The Detroit Tigers sign Carlos Correa to be their everyday shortstop

Carlos Correa turns 27 next month and has put up an impressive season as he seems to be hitting his stride on offense and defense.

His slash line has been .272/.367/.478 with a WRC+ of 137 with 17 home runs and 59 RBI so far this season. He hits the ball all over the field with power and his current hard hit% contact rate is just below his high in 2017 of 44.6% and his walk and strike-out rates are below the league average. 

He has had some injuries sure but he has played over 100 games in every season but his rookie season and in 2019. Currently, he has an fWAR of 3.9 and we are all familiar with the fact he once played for manager A.J Hinch.

Whatever the state of Michigan has to do as a collective to make this happen outside of money,  whether its stock in all three automakers, renaming a city “Correa City”, this would be high impactful because it would provide a much needed steady power threat and defense at a position that has been near the bottom as a team in fielding (26th according to FanGraphs) compared to Houston, which is ranked number 6 on the strength of Correa.

As painful as this next sentence is to say, Detroit struggles as a free agent destination because it is in the Midwest however, there is enough talent here that doing whatever it takes to make Correa a Tiger must happen. His impact alone could help Detroit get into playoff contention sooner.

Detroit Tigers sign Chris Taylor

Wait, a super-utility guy? What? How is that impactful?

Perhaps since Tigers fans may have not seen one hit some sort of power (21 homers in 2017, 17 in 2018, 17 so far this season) and one who has had a wRC+ of over 100 in his time in five seasons.  Not to mention this season, he has an fWAR of 3.7 and before you say “so, your point?” he has played in centerfield, second base, shortstop, left field, a pair of games at third and right field this season.

The best part about Taylor? He does not have a negative DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) in any of those positions listed above. He is a solid defender who can get on base consistently and that is something the Tigers could use. Manager AJ Hinch loves utility players so why not get the most impactful one on the market?

Salary numbers for all three would be hard to guess, considering there could be a possibility of a strike this off-season. But adding two of these three high-impact players in addition to other smaller deals to address the lack of depth would help the Tigers get closer to playoff contention.

The Tigers just need to be the smartest team in free agency. Spend smart to get impactful players and these three to me, are a good start.